As the Gaffer Gary Johnson put it after the game - "Nobody ever said it was going to be easy!" But anybody who left before the fifteen minute mark would have thought Yeovil would have coasted it, so dominate was their play during that period.
Gary Johnson made one change from the starting eleven at Northampton when he brought back Bartosz Tarachulski for Rory Fallon and the early exchanges were all Yeovil.
After five minutes a nice interchange involving Tarachulski, Jevons and Way saw Darren put his shot just wide.
Within a minute another Yeovil attack saw Darren Way dart through only to be brought down by Harrison in the Orient goal, and it was yet another Yeovil spot kick. Harrison was duly carded but only yellow when perhaps it should have been red, but Phil Jevons didn't need a second invitation and The Glovers were a goal to the good.
Two minutes later and a cross come shot from Michael Rose hit the bar and then Harrison was scrambling to save from Arron Davies.
It was all Yeovil and in the 12th. minute a great cross from Lee Johnson was met by Bartos Tarachulski but his shot was miraculously saved by Harrison again.
On twenty minutes Andy Lindegaard came haring through and was brought down for what, to me, seemed another penalty but the M.I.B. saw differently and booked Lindy for diving. Very harsh in my humble opinion.
As the game wore on though the level of the Yeovil display started to drop as the strong wind started to play more of a part. Passes were going astray and the ball given away too much, but it didn't stop Andy Scott getting a yellow card for a late tackle on Lee Johnson.
Gary Johnson decided to act in the 34th. minute when he brought on Rory Fallon for Bartosz Tarachulski who has been carrying a hip injury which was obviously hindering his play.
As half time approached a quick ball from Davies found Paul Terry but his shot was saved by Harrison again.
Half Time: Yeovil Town 1 Leyton Orient 0
Things didn't really improve in the second half and with both teams defending high up the park all the play was being contracted in the middle third with neither team really being able to break out.
In the 53rd. minute a free kick from Johnson found Fallon but his shot went wide and by now even the crowd were desperately trying to raise the player's momentum as the dire midfield battle continued.
Coming up to the hour Orient did have a couple of chances when Carlisle shot just over and Youngs had a shot saved by Chris Weale.
Down the other end Paul Terry found Arron Davies but the hot shot brought out another save from Harrison.
Orient thought they had another chance when Terry Skiverton and Kevin Amankwaah got mixed up but fortunately an alert Chris Weale came out to save.
In the 74th. minute Lee Johnson got a yellow for a very innocuous tackle and then two minutes later Fallon fired in another powerful shot but Harrison saved yet again.
A crude elbow in the face of Andy Lindegaard from Echanomi saw a red card for the first time in the afternoon and the blow was enough to see Lindegaard substituted by Gall on 81 minutes.
Suddenly Yeovil picked up the pace and Gall's speed was immediately exploiting the Orient right flank. One most certainly should have brought a goal for Fallon when the Welshman fired in a perfect cross but Fallon shot wide again.
The pair repeated the move in extra time with the same result and Yeovil really should have finished on a high.
As the minutes ticked away Orient had one final attack but Weale saved and then an incident off the ball saw Skiverton booked which failed to please the Yeovil skipper.
So, in a match that Yeovil gained three points from, the performance certainly wasn't top draw but teams are not going to come to Huish Park and lie down and the supporters have to realise that.
Four wins should do it now and I'm sure the performances won't be remembered when everybody is celebrating promotion.
Final Score: Yeovil Town 1 Leyton Orient 0
Sat.4th.March March 2005, 3.00 p.m. kick-off.
Conditions: Cold but dry
Pitch: Good
Scorers: Phil Jevons (6 mins pen)
Attendance: 6,545
Referee: Mick Fletcher
Assistants: Keith Buller, Simon Snartt
Bookings:
Yeovil: Lindegaard, Johnson, Skiverton.
Leyton Orient: Harrison, Scott, McMahon, Simpson. Red Card: Echanomi (78).
Yeovil Town : (4-4-2)
1. Chris Weale 16. Andy Lindegaard 4. Terry Skiverton 12. Kevin Amankwaah 3. Michael Rose 7. Paul Terry 8. Lee Johnson 6. Darren Way 11. Phil Jevons
18.Bartosz Tarachulski 25. Arron Davies
Subs: 2. Adam Lockwood 9. Kevin Gall (81, for Lindegaard) 13. Steven Collis (GK) 18. Rory Fallon (34, for Tarachulski) 27. Andrejs Stolcers
Booked: Lindegaard, Johnson, Skiverton.
Leyton Orient: Harrison, Lockwood (Barnard 68), Mackie, Zakuani, Miller, Scott, McMahon, Simpson, Carlisle (Echanomi 64), Steele, Youngs.
Subs Not Used: Morris, Hunt, Duncan.
